SPOKANE, Wash. – , sparking disappointment and bipartisan opposition among local leaders. The funding, initially approved in January, was struck down by U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick.
The Spokane Workforce Council (SWF) played an integral role in writing the grant and confirms the region will pursue the next round of funding despite the setback.
“The Tech Hub would have been that facility that used to be Triumph Composite,” SWF CEO Mark Mattke stated, referring to the former Boeing site in Airway Heights located at 1514 S. Flint Road.
The original $48 million grant aimed to bring aerospace manufacturing companies to Spokane, creating jobs and fostering economic growth. Mattke learned about the locked-up dollars like everyone else – through a press release.
“They said that they felt that the process hadn’t been done in a consistent manner and wanted to go back out and just redo it to make sure there was a fair and objective means to arrive at the awards,” Mattke said.
Local congressional members are also opposing the move – including Rep. Michale Baumgartner (R-WA); however, the strongest blowback comes from Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). She described the move as “unprecedented” and “a pointless setback.”
Mattke expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “It’s great our congressional delegation stands firmly behind Spokane on this.”
The Spokane Workforce Council plans to pursue the grant for a third time. The next round of funding will have different criteria, focusing less on unions and more on the efficient use of public dollars, according to the Department of Commerce.
Mattke remains hopeful about the future, emphasizing the importance of Spokane’s role in technology development.
“If we’re left behind and don’t have technology being developed, then someone else gets to be the leader. I want the United States to be the leaders, and I want Spokane to play a role in that,” Mattke said.
